This is a day that is about "All" of the people who served our country. Too often the beginning warriors are forgotten. Too often it is about every war after WW II.

There were more.

I have a little Memorial Day Tradition. I pick out one C.M.H. winner grave site and visit it. I say my thanks in person. I do not usually go to parades or festivities; I pick a grave of a C.M.H. winner and pay my respects one on one.

They are all over the place. They are in just about every city.

I am in Milwaukee this weekend. The grave I chose to visit was that of John Breen. I do an internet search and find a C.M.H. winner every year on Memorial Day. In this case it did not matter that he may have been responsible for the death of some of my ancestors. He was fighting for his country.

By searching on the internet it gives me personal knowledge about one persons’ ultimate sacrifice, and it makes it the grave visit so much more interesting and respectful.

I too have a special Memorial Day tradition, it is a day of remberance for me of a very special person.
It was 1971, we were in a place called Binh Thuy, Vietnam.
I was 19 years old, and a very good friend Jim Wall, was killed in night action over the Mekong Delta.
He was a mentor to me, and he died at the "old" age of 21.

I too have a special Memorial Day tradition, it is a day of remberance for me of a very special person.
It was 1971, we were in a place called Binh Thuy, Vietnam.
I was 19 years old, and a very good friend Jim Wall, was killed in night action over the Mekong Delta.
He was a mentor to me, and he died at the "old" age of 21.

This is the most important thread on the site.
I have my own "tradition" that i try to do all the time.
Whenever i see a veteran (usually it's when i see them wearing a hat that says WWII, Vietnam, Korea, or a VFW hat or shirt) I will go up to them, ask them if they served, then i thank them and shake their hand.
You would be surprised at the reactions i get. Especially if it's a Vietnam vet. Some of them will answer "Yes" and you can SEE it in their eyes, they are ready for the "attack" that they are used to getting. My brother in law was spit on when he returned from Vietnam. So they are not used to getting thanked for their service to OUR country, OUR freedom. I have had grown men start crying when i did this. I have had them say "In all the years since i came back, i have NEVER had someone do what you just did". I even had a woman come up to me and thank me, as her husband had tears running down his face. She told me i would never know just how much that meant to him, AND to her. It shouldn't be like that of course, they SHOULD be thanked all the time. Whether you agreed with Vietnam or not, the men that fought are brave men, that were serving their country for ALL of us.
I try not to draw attention to myself when i do this, i try to keep it low key. It's not about me, it's about THEM. Sometimes i will follow them out of a store or restaurant to do this. That way they arn't put on the spot.
I do this at all times of the year, not Memorial day.
Everyone should try this. I have got so many blessings myself from doing this small thing. And the honor of being able to shake the hands of so many REAL heroes!
To ALL the Vets on this site, a heartfelt THANK YOU from me for your service! It's people like you that make it possible for us to have the freedoms that so many take for granted! I will NEVER take what i have for granted!
THANK YOU!!!!
Alan (Cheesey)